G protein G alpha q/11 and G alpha i1,2 are activated by pancreastatin receptors in rat liver: studies with GTP-gamma 35S and azido-GTP-alpha-32P

In the liver, pancreastatin exerts a glycogenolytic effect through interaction with specific receptors, followed by activation of phospholipase C and guanylate cyclase. Pancreastatin receptor seems to be coupled to two different G protein systems: a pertussis toxin-insensitive G protein that mediates activation of phospholipase C, and a pertussis toxin sensitive G protein that mediates the cyclic GMP production. The aim of this study was to identify the specific G protein subtypes coupling pancreastatin receptors in rat liver membranes. GTP binding was determined by using gamma-35S-GTP; specific anti-G protein alpha subtype sera were used to block the effect of pancreastatin receptor activation. Activation of G proteins was demonstrated by the incorporation of the photoreactive GTP analogue 8-azido-alpha-32P-GTP into liver membranes and into specific immunoprecipitates of different Galpha subunits from soluble rat liver membranes. Pancreastatin stimulation of rat liver membranes increases the binding of gamma-35S-GTP in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Activation of the soluble receptors still led to the pancreastatin dose-dependent stimulation of gamma-35S-GTP binding. Besides, WGA semipurified receptors also stimulates GTP binding. The binding was inhibited by treatment with anti-Galphaq/11 (85%) and anti-Galphai1,2 (15%) sera, whereas anti-Galphao,i3 serum failed to affect the binding. Finally, pancreastatin stimulates GTP photolabeling of particulate membranes. Moreover, it specifically increased the incorporation of 8-azido-alpha-32P-GTP into Galphaq/11 and Galpha, but not into Galphao,i3 from soluble rat liver membranes. In conclusion, pancreastatin stimulation of rat liver membranes led to the activation of Galphaq/11 and Galphai1,2 proteins. These results suggest that Galphaq/11 and Galphai1,2 may play a functional role in the signaling of pancreastatin receptor by mediating the production of IP3 and cGMP respectively.